Blade changer unit

Abstract

A blade changer unit includes a blade chuck for holding a cutting blade, a moving unit for moving the blade chuck, and a control unit for controlling moving unit. The blade chuck has a plurality of electrically conductive grippers for holding the cutting blade. The controller detects conduction between the grippers and a boss. The control unit includes a calculator for calculating the position of a central axis of the mount from coordinates where the conduction between the holder and the boss is detected when the moving unit is controlled to bring the grippers into contact with the mount at at least three points, and a mounting/dismounting controller for mounting and dismounting the cutting blade while the central axis of the blade chuck is aligned with the central axis of the mount calculated by the calculator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blade changer unit for mounting a cutting blade on and dismounting the cutting blade from a boss extending in an axial direction of a mount fixed to a distal end of a spindle of a processing apparatus, the cutting blade including a circular base having an insertion hole defined centrally therein and a cutting edge disposed on an outer circumferential edge portion of the circular base, the blade changer unit comprising:
 an electrically conductive holder for holding the cutting blade; 
 a moving unit for moving the blade changer unit; and 
 a control unit for controlling the moving unit and detecting conduction between the holder and the boss, 
 wherein the control unit includes:
 a calculator for calculating a center of the mount from coordinates where the conduction between the holder and the boss is detected when the moving unit is controlled to bring the holder into contact with the mount at at least three points, and 
 a mounting/dismounting controller for mounting and dismounting the cutting blade while a center of the holder is aligned with the center of the mount calculated by the calculator. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The blade changer unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the mount has a bearing flange projecting radially outwardly from a rear end of the boss in an axial direction thereof, for supporting the cutting blade, 
 the spindle has an axial direction as a Y-axis direction, 
 the calculator calculates coordinates in the Y-axis direction of the boss from the coordinates where the conduction between the holder and the boss is detected when the holder is brought into contact with the boss or a distal end of the bearing flange at at least one point, and 
 the mounting/dismounting controller mounts and dismounts the cutting blade in alignment with the coordinates in the Y-axis direction of the boss calculated by the calculator. 
 
     
     
       3. A blade changer unit for mounting a cutting blade, the cutting blade including a circular base having an insertion hole defined centrally therein and a cutting edge disposed on an outer circumferential edge portion of the circular base, on and dismounting the cutting blade, from a boss extending in an axial direction of a mount fixed to a distal end of a spindle of a processing apparatus, the blade changer unit comprising:
 an electrically conductive holder for holding an electrically conductive jig having an opening larger than the boss; 
 a moving unit for moving the blade changer unit; and 
 a control unit for controlling the moving unit and detecting conduction between the holder and the boss, 
 wherein the control unit includes:
 a calculator for calculating a center of the mount from coordinates where the conduction between the holder and the boss is detected when the moving unit is controlled to bring the jig held by the holder into contact with the mount at at least three points, and 
 a mounting/dismounting controller for mounting and dismounting the cutting blade while a center of the holder is aligned with the center of the mount calculated by the calculator. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The blade changer unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the mount has a bearing flange projecting radially outwardly from a rear end of the boss in an axial direction thereof, for supporting the cutting blade, 
 the spindle has an axial direction as a Y-axis direction, 
 the calculator calculates coordinates in the Y-axis direction of the boss from the coordinates where the conduction between the holder and the boss is detected when the jig is brought into contact with the boss or a distal end of the bearing flange at at least one point, and 
 the mounting/dismounting controller mounts and dismounts the cutting blade in alignment with the coordinates in the Y-axis direction of the boss calculated by the calculator. 
 
     
     
       5. The blade changer unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the jig includes the cutting blade.